From time to time people will come through NewSpring Church and ask the question, “Where in the world did you get such an awesome staff?”
(I will say this…we DO have an awesome staff!)
My answer shocks them most of the time…you see, our staff, just about everyone of them, were hired from within. We didn’t call the seminaries or Bible colleges. We didn’t put out want adds in the religion section of the newspaper. We simply began to look within and see who was committed and passionate about the vision…who was serving…and we hired them. For example…
- Alden Ellis, our middle school pastor, started out by sweeping floors on Sunday mornings…and would occasionally clean up vomit. (Yes, he REALLY did this!)
- Lindsay Taguba, my assistant, was serving as a volunteer in our student ministry and we realized she was one of those “don’t let her get away” type of people.
- Sherry Moorhead, our director of volunteers, began her career her at NewSpring by taking out the trash on Sunday evenings and co-leading a home group with her husband.
I could go on and on about how God provided the right people at the right times from within our church. I think there is so many positive aspects from hiring from within…you already have a relationship with the people…they already KNOW the vision of your church…and so on.
But…and this is a BIG BUT…there ARE times that a church can (and should) go outside of the organization to hire people. NOW…this is not our normal practice; however, I have always had a VERY short list of people who, if I ever had the opportunity to hire them…I WOULD!
WHY? It’s quite simple—they are leaders…they think big…they have vision…they know the culture in which we minister in…AND they are not “yes” men (or women)—they have a passion to see disconnected people connect with Christ and they are willing to say what needs to be said!!!
(Just in case you are…NONE of the people I have around me are “yes” men…you should see some of our staff meetings!)
One of the people on the list of people who I would hire someday if I ever got the chance is a dude named Tony Morgan. I met Tony through blogging and began to REALLY enjoy what he said and how he said it…and so we began to establish a friendship through e-mail.
We made a personal connection at Catalyst a few years back…and then I remember one time facing a HUGE leadership decision and having this thought, “Call Tony & ask him what he thinks.” So I did…and Tony didn’t tell me what I wanted to hear—but it was what I needed to hear. I thought that night after hanging up the phone, “I would love to have that dude on staff one day!”
Well—to make a long story short…THAT is now a reality! Tony Morgan has agreed to join the staff here at NewSpring Church. I know this brings up a ton of questions from some…so here is an attempt to answer some of them…
- NO—there are NOT any problems at Granger. It is an incredible church with an awesome vision who still has its best years in front of it.
- No—Tony is not being “ran off,” in fact, Tim, their Executive Pastor, and I have spoken during this process and Tim said that he selfishly wished that Tony would stay there forever.
- NO—NewSpring and Granger do not hate each other; in fact, all of us agree that this is the right move—we know that GOD’S KINGDOM wins…and that is WAY more important than any single church!
- NO—I didn’t lure Tony away with the promise of higher pay, a corner office and the promise that I would name my child after him. He is coming this way because God is all over this move.
- NO—I will not share on this blog who that list of people is who I would hire if I had the opportunity!
That’s about it for now…I am sure I will post more on this later. I can say that I am excited and humbled that Tony would come this way. I know that God is going to use him to challenge in stretch me and this church in incredible ways…and I am looking forward to it!!!